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CCPS Process Safety Beacon 2021-03

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786 views1 page

CCPS Process Safety Beacon 2021-03

Uploaded by

Kiran
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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This issue sponsored by

Messages for Manufacturing Personnel aiche.org/ccps www.iomosaic.com


www.aiche.org/ccps/process-safety-beacon

Do not allow your relief device vents to be a hazard March 2021

Did You Know?


1. Relief devices, whether used in process or utility service
need to vent to a safe location. That can vary by the
material being relieved.
2. Poorly sealed manways can release hazardous materials
and expose workers in the process area. The relief device
should be the only release point for overpressure.
3. Potential emissions from relief devices should be known
Figure 1. Process vapors leaking from manway
and documented as critical safety and environmental data.
4. The safe location for a relief discharge needs to be in an
area where volatile materials can disperse to the
atmosphere or where liquids can be contained.
5. When vented materials collect, they can result in a cloud of
flammable or toxic materials that could ignite or expose
worker or the community.
6. Changes to other processes or equipment in the area need
to be reviewed for any impacts on the dispersion of relief
Figure 2. Process vapors released at a low level emissions.
near the process area

On April 12, 2004, a company in Dalton Georgia, USA What Can You Do?
was contracted to make triallyl cyanurate. A runaway
reaction occurred, and flammable and toxic allyl 1. Search for relief device vents during your rounds in the unit.
alcohol and allyl chloride were released to the When you see one look for:
atmosphere. Some material was released through a a. Is it labelled as a relief line ?
poorly sealed manway (Figure 1) and more through b. Could it expose someone?
the rupture disc vent which discharged near the base c. Is there other equipment around it that could trap
of the reactor (Figure 2). The release forced the flammable or toxic vapors?
evacuation of over 200 families in the surrounding d. If the answer to any of these is “Yes” report it to your
community. supervisor.
One worker received chemical burns and 154 people
including 15 emergency responders had to be 2. If there are process or relief vents at a low level that could
decontaminated and treated for chemical exposure. expose someone, report these too.
(Sources: CSB report 2004-09-I-GA. Figures from the
CSB video “Reactive Hazards”) 3. Ensure all openings (manways, charge ports, etc.) on
equipment and piping flanges are properly tightened, so
Another company in the U.S. received a regulatory
systems vent only as designed.
inspection. They were cited for not venting process
relief valves to a safe location. While the vents
discharged outdoors, the release point was directly 4. During MOC reviews, ask for details of a relief discharge
over an exit from the process building. An employee location. The relief location needs to allow dispersion of
exiting during a relief discharge could have walked gases, vapors and/or capture of liquids.
right into a cloud of process materials.

Relief devices need to vent to a safe location. Verify that the locations are actually safe.
©AIChE 2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction for non-commercial, educational purposes is encouraged. However, reproduction for any commercial
purpose without express written consent of AIChE is strictly prohibited. Contact us at [email protected] or 646-495-1371.

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